Yogyakarta – Over 5,000 disabled people in Sleman regency might lose their voting rights in the upcoming legislative election if special aid is not put in place for them.

While the General Elections Commission (KPU) has provided ballots in Braille for blind people voting in the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) election, the commission has not catered for disabled persons voting in the parliamentary or the provincial, regency or municipal legislative council elections.

"How can we vote if we are not given special aid?" Tasik, a disabled man, told an election public forum for disabled voters.

Another disabled man, Agus Budiman, who uses a wheelchair, said the ballot booths were designed without considering wheelchair access. "Some 80 percent of us will not be able to vote," he said.

Sleman General Elections Committee (KPUD) member Suryatiningsih said her office was liaising with the local administration to accommodate 5,614 disabled people in the regency.

"We are discussing the possibility of the Sleman administration facilitating disabled access in the event the KPU does not do so," she said.